Local pros · Selling and flipping
Choosing a real estate agent for selling or flipping
Before you spend on new appliances, a heat pump or a pergola for the listing photos, talk to the agent who'll price the house. A good listing agent knows which upgrades local buyers pay for and which ones they shrug at.
Hire right once: Pick an agent who backs advice with recent comparable sales from your neighborhood, including what the updated homes sold for, before you choose any upgrades.
Before you hire, check:
- A current license on your state real estate commission's lookup
- Recent sales near you at your price point, with days on market
- The listing agreement's commission, term and cancellation terms
What they do for sellers and flippers
- Pricing: a comparative market analysis from recent nearby sales, including how much updated kitchens, newer HVAC and outdoor spaces added in your area.
- Pre-sale plan: which repairs and upgrades to do, which to skip, and which to disclose instead.
- Marketing: photos, listing copy, staging advice and showings. Features like a standby generator, a newer heat pump or ENERGY STAR appliances belong in the listing details.
- For flippers: after-repair value (ARV) estimates on purchase, renovation scope that fits the neighborhood, and a fast resale.
Licensing and the newer rules
Real estate agents and brokers are licensed by each state's real estate commission; check the license before you sign. Since the 2024 National Association of Realtors settlement took effect, MLS listings no longer carry offers of compensation to buyer's agents, and buyers working with a Realtor sign a written agreement before touring. Sellers can still agree to pay some or all of a buyer's agent's fee or offer concessions; it's negotiated deal by deal.[1]
Upgrades agents recommend before selling
In NAR's 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, the projects real estate pros most often recommend to sellers are painting (the whole home or at least one room) and making sure the roof is sound; about one-third said kitchen upgrades make a big difference to a property's appeal. Their estimated cost recovery at resale was about 60% for both a minor kitchen upgrade and a complete kitchen renovation.[2] Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value report, which uses a different method, estimated 113% for a midrange minor kitchen remodel and 95% for a backup power generator, with exterior projects leading the list.[3] The gap between the two is a reason to ask your agent what applies locally.
For the big-ticket buys covered on this site, see big-ticket buys for house flips and pre-sale upgrades.
Questions to ask
- What did the three most comparable homes sell for, and what had been updated in them?
- Which upgrades would you do on this house, and which would you skip?
- What's your commission, and how do you suggest handling buyer's agent compensation?
- How long is the listing agreement, and can I cancel if it isn't working?
- Do you recommend a pre-listing inspection?
- For flips: how many investor sales have you handled, and what ARV would you put on this one?
Typical costs
| Item | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Total commission (listing plus buyer's agent), national average | 5.46% (2.76% listing, 2.70% buyer's agent), per an August 2026 survey[4] |
Commission is negotiable and varies by market, price point and services included.
Related buying guides
Sources
- National Association of Realtors, Compensation, Commission and Concessions: nar.realtor
- National Association of Realtors, "Should I Remodel My Home Before I Sell?" (2025 Remodeling Impact Report): nar.realtor
- Zonda, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (national averages): jlconline.com
- Clever Real Estate, Average Real Estate Commission Rate: listwithclever.com